Onorato's Mascalzone Latino Surges Ahead

Porto Cervo, Italy - With six races now completed in the Audi Melges 32 European Championship and a discard coming into play, the leader board has undergone a slight reshuffle but remains incredibly close. Vincenzo Onorato's Mascalzone Latino currently sits at the top of the overall classification on 21 points. Second place is occupied by Jason Carroll's Argo on equal points with third-placedFantastica owned by Lanfranco Cirillo. Yesterday's leader Bombarda, owned by Andrea Pozzi and with America's Cup helmsman Flavio Favini on tactics, sits in fourth place, just one point behind. The event, organized by the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda in collaboration with B-Plan Sport&Events andMelges Europe, will conclude on Sunday 1st July with a maximum of ten races scheduled.

Conditions were once again light off Porto Cervo with an east south-easterly breeze of around 8 to 10 knots accompanying each of today’s three races. In Race Four of the series Carlo Alberini's Calvi Network crossed the finish line first ahead of Carroll and Audi Fratelli Giacomel–Fra Martina helmed by Edoardo Pavesio after Cirillo lost the second place that she had held for the entire race during the final downwind leg to finish fourth. American John Kilroy's Samba Pa Ti took victory in the second race of the day ahead of Spain's Bribon Movistar, owned by Marc De Antonio, and Italy's Torpyoneowned by Edoardo Lupi with Branko Brcin on tactics. Mascalzone Latino, with Australia's Nathan Wilmot calling tactics, took center stage in the final race of the day – Race Six -and led throughout trailed by Japan's Naofumi Kamei on Mamma Aiuto!. France's Teasing Machine, owned by Jean Francois Cruette and with Francois Brenac on tactics, started well and climbed steadily to finish third.

Alberini, owner of Calvi Network and President of the Melges 32 Class had a mixed day with a 1-20-8 score line today: "The day started off great, then we got a bit lost with a misunderstanding in the second race. I made a mistake and we, quite rightly, had to complete a penalty and so any potential for a good result was gone. We redeemed ourselves somewhat in the final race, even if we were over early but we believed in the left side of the course and regained ground there. There are only four more races to run but we will do our best."

Michele Paoletti, tactician aboard Fantastica: "We're a little bit disappointed because we threw away more than a few points. We raced fairly well but made some minor errors that I’m afraid will count in the end. In any case the classification is still wide open."

Racing in the event is scheduled to continue tomorrow, Saturday 30th June at 11.30 a.m. The forecast is similar to today with approximately 8 knots of Sirocco breeze predicted.